Mooring for boats coming off the Thames

Here are some suggestions for boats coming off the Thames as to the best places to moor. All the suggested moorings are on the canalised section of the navigation. Please note Thames Lock (River Wey) does not open until 09:00 each day. Thank you to Suzanne Wilson (Aqua Vitae) for checking my proposals for mooring.

• Just above Town Lock - close to Weybridge and its shops and pubs but may be noisy as it is very close to the Addlestone to Weybridge Road. About 1.5 hours from Woodham Junction.
• Pelican Pub - between the 'linear' moorings and the 'herringbone' moorings in Addlestone - just above Black Boy Bridge. Not a bad pub and you can moor right outside. About 15 mins walk from a big Tesco. About 1.5 hours from Woodham junction.
• The navigation between Coxes Lock and New Haw Lock is not suitable for overnight mooring as it has quite shallow edges; there's no shopping easily accessible. 
• Above New Haw Lock you can moor on the towpath side - the White Hart on the roundabout is not bad and there's a convenience store close at hand. About 20 mins to Woodham Junction.
• If you go above Woodham Junction it is not possible to turn until you get to Pyrford Marina which is about 50 mins boating away. The stretch of the navigation between the railway bridge (at the junction) and Parvis Bridge has quite shallow edges and is not suitable for mooring but there are nice moorings above Murray's Bridge and before Dodds Bridge. The Anchor at Pyrford Lock is worth a visit and has good moorings outside. Your Basingstoke transit licence will allow you to go this far but not through the lock.  All services available at Pyrford Marina (opposite the Anchor) - they are closed on Tuesdays.

Insurance and Boat Safety documents

If your Insurance and/or Boat Safety documents expire before the end of April-2013 would you please ensure that you provide details of the new expiry dates.  It is imperative that the Basingstoke Canal Authority have up-to-date details for any documents that expire between now and the end of April-2013.

Names on the downloadable Locking schedule

A PDF version of the Locking Schedule is available by clicking on the title - 'Names on the downloadable Locking schedule'

I have added Christian (First) names to the downloadable locking schedule so there's no excuse for not knowing who you are locking with and to attempt to make it a more friendly trip! Where I know the people concerned I have added wives/partners names but there are some I don't know other than the information that is on the application form.  If I haven't got the full information (and you would like it there) please drop me an E-Mail and I will add it.  It also makes it easier for the BCA ranger to talk to you by name rather than a 'Hey You' or using your boat name!  Likewise if you don't want your name there please let me know and I'll take it off.

Brookwood Water Point

The water point at Brookwood Country Park (on the wharf) is accessed with a BW 'Watermate' key.  However the tap is a 1 inch tap for which adaptors are not usually carried.  Kathryn on Leo No2 (07768 770070) and Rodney on Hazell Nut (07887 552922) both have 1 inch to Hozelock adaptors.  Kathryn will be with the first group up St Johns on the Friday and Rodney with the second group on the Saturday.

Cheques to be presented on Friday 22-February

I have had a call from the Basingstoke Canal Authority requesting that I give them all the monies that have been paid so far - apparently a Hampshire County Council requirement - so I have arranged to go and seem them tomorrow - I understand the cheques will be banked on Friday of this week.

Welcome

A PDF Version is available by clicking on the title - 'Welcome'

Welcome to this the first organised cruise to King John's Castle in over five years. Quite an historic occasion. The cruise is sponsored by the Basingstoke Canal Society in conjunction with Byfleet Boat Club and the local branch of the IWA.

The Basingstoke Canal Authority have worked and are working extremely hard to finish off the work required to make the canal safe and navigable for this trip so we should raise a glass in their honour at the first opportunity.

The Basingstoke Canal Society (previously known to you as Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society) have worked tirelessly in conjunction with the local branch of the IWA to help maintain the canal - these two organisations are committed to the canal and its future as are both Surrey and Hampshire County Councils and the local riparian Boroughs.

Please follow the advice given by the BCA rangers - we need to be careful with the canal. Please also note that we have a number of volunteers who will be helping with lock wheeling - they are not all boat owners so be aware they are working under the direction (and training) of the BCA.

There are not many dos and don'ts on the canal but there are a few things the BCA have requested we point out:

• Between locks 1 and 3 there are houseboats - there have been houseboats here since the early 1960s. Please only pass these houseboats on tickover and if the opportunity arises please do chat with the residents.
• For those only going to Brookwood Country Park please don't wind at Hermitage Flash (just under the A324 bridge) but proceed to the winding hole just below the A322. This will ensure the canal is kept clear at the A322 and will reduce any annoyance to the residents of the houseboat at Hermitage Flash
• The canal from Brookwood Country Park to the top of Deepcut (17 locks) is a 'no stopping' zone. Please do not stop in this area other than to wait for locks to be made available.

We will stop at the Bridge Barn Hotel in the Woking pound, Brookwood Country Park (in the Hermitage Pound) and Potters Hotel (in the Mytchett Pound). On the top two pounds, if you are joining us for that, please feel free to stop as and where you want. All we ask is that you enjoy yourselves and are ready at the top of Deepcut at 09:00 on Friday 5-April (or 6-April as appropriate) to go to Brookwood Country Park and then ready at Lock 11 to go to the River Wey on Saturday 6-April (or 7-April). For water, pumpout and cassette disposal information please see below. You must arrive at Woodham with full water and diesel tanks and an empty pumpout tank for your Basingstoke cruise.

Some useful contact details for you

Basingstoke Canal Authority Duty Ranger	(07894) 425588
Basingstoke Canal Authority Office	(01252) 370073

Boaters with experience of the Basingstoke Canal

Kathryn Dodington - Leo No2	(07768) 770070
Rodney Wardlaw - Hazell Nut	(07887) 552922

Useful Numbers

Thames Lock River Wey	(01932) 843106
The Locker Co (Chandlers on the Wey)	(01932) 355311
National Trust Guildford	(01483) 561389
Bridge Barn Hotel Woking	(01483) 763642
Potters Hotel Mytchett	(01252) 838000
Galleon Marine Odiham	(01256) 703691

Water points
Bridge Barn Hotel - Towpath side opposite hotel
Brookwood Country Park - Adjacent to wharf
Canal Centre - Adjacent to pumpout
Ash Lock
Winchfield Wharf
Odiham - Colt Hill Wharf

Cassette disposal
Bridge Barn Hotel - Towpath side opposite hotel
Odiham - Colt Hill Wharf
Canal Centre - Adjacent to pumpout

Pumpout
Canal Centre Mytchett - please see Canal Centre or Kathryn or Rodney for a token

Galleon Marine Odiham

(01256) 703691

Refuse Disposal
Bridge Barn Hotel - Towpath side opposite hotel
Canal Centre - Adjacent to pumpout
Ash Lock
Odiham

Diesel

Galleon Marine Odiham

(01256) 703691

Doctors

Woking

Dr. J P Mellor & Partners, Heathside Road, Woking, GU22 7XL

(01483) 761110

St. Johns	St. Johns Health Centre, Hermitage Road, GU21 8TD	(01483) 227060
Ash Vale	Ash Vale Health Centre, Wharf Road, GU12 5BA	(01252) 317551
Fleet	The Surgery, Branksomewood Road, GU51 4JX	(01252) 613624
Odiham	Odiham Health Centre, Deer Park View, RG29 1JY	(01256) 702371

   

Dental Surgeons

Woking	Lorna Doone Dental Surgery, Chobham Road, GU21 4AA	(01483) 763107
Ash Vale	Ash Vale Dental Surgery, 97 Vale Road, GU12 5HR	(01252) 324847
Fleet	Fleet Dental Centre, 37 Reading Road South, GU52 7QP	(01252) 666976

Veterinary Practices
Woking	Pet Doctors Veterinary Centre, 125 Chertsey Road, GU21 5BP	(01483) 769881
St. Johns	Pet Doctors Veterinary Surgery, 1 Robin Hood Rd, GU21 8SP	(01483) 772644
Frimley Green	Wellesley Veterinary, 103 Frimley Green Road, GU16 6JX	(01252) 836699
Fleet	Ark Veterinary Practice, 41 Connaught Road, GU51 3LR	(01252) 616185
Odiham	Ark Veterinary Practice, 22 High Street, RG29 1LG	(01256) 702337

Pumpout
If you have a pumpout system you must arrive with it as empty as possible. Nearest pumpouts to Woodham Junction are at Shepperton Marina (if coming up the Thames) or Pyrford Marina if coming from the Wey (Pyrford is closed on Tuesdays).

Environment Agency Transit Licence
For those travelling between Teddington and the Wey there is a £10:00 transit licence available at Teddington Lock. A similar licence is required for your return; available at Sunbury Lock.

Basingstoke Transit Licence
For those of you coming off the Thames you will need to purchase a Basingstoke Transit Licence, which is £12:00 return. The Basingstoke Transit Licence entitles you to go as far as Pyrford Marina.

River Wey Discount
The National Trust have kindly offered a discount to those boats not resident on the River Wey of 10% off the standard licence fee for a period of either a week before the Basingstoke trip or after.

Shopping (Please remember that Easter Sunday is a ‘no shopping at large stores’ day)
There is a Morrisons five minutes from Bridge Barn, a Sainsburys and a Homebase 10 mins from Brookwood Country Park, a parade of shops, including a bakery, at Ash Vale (mooring not easy), a Sainsburys in Fleet 10 mins from Reading Road South Wharf and village shopping in Odiham.